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Gun used in fatal shooting of teen was stolen

The gun used in the fatal shooting of a Hephzibah teen Monday was reported stolen in Columbia County just four days before the incident.

Columbia County sheriff’s Capt. Steve Morris confirmed that the .45-caliber automatic Colt pistol fired by Dominique Sullivan, 19, in the Richmond County shooting was stolen overnight on Nov. 6 from an unlocked truck in a Martinez neighborhood.

Police said Sullivan, of Morgan Road near Hephzibah, shot his “very close friend,” Delarrion Smith, 18, while playing with a gun he believed to be unloaded.

The gun’s owner reported his weapon stolen to authorities Nov. 7 when he got into his Dodge truck to leave for work and saw his glove box open with its contents scattered throughout the vehicle, which was parked at his Fairfax Street residence. The gun, valued at about $950, was missing from his center console, according to a Columbia County incident report.

The Richmond County sheriff’s Office charged Sullivan with involuntary manslaughter, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and pointing a firearm at another.

Police said that Smith went to Andorra Drive to give Sullivan a ride. Sullivan began horse-playing with Smith in the vehicle, and Smith pulled out a handgun and pointed it at Sullivan in a “playful manner,” they said.

Sullivan took the gun, removed the magazine, pointed the gun back at Smith and pulled the trigger, believing the gun was unloaded, according to authorities.

Smith suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and was taken to Georgia Regents Medical Center, where he died.